A Sierra Leone high court has sentenced 11 individuals, including soldiers and police officers, to lengthy prison terms for their alleged involvement in the failed military coup of November 26, 2023. The verdict, delivered on Monday, comes after a trial that has gripped the nation and highlighted ongoing political tensions in the West African country.
The convicted individuals were found guilty on 20 counts, including treason, murder, and unauthorized use of military uniforms. The coup attempt, which targeted military barracks, a prison, and other strategic locations, resulted in the deaths of over 20 people and the escape of approximately 2,200 inmates.
Amadu Koita Makalo, a retired army major and former bodyguard to ex-president Ernest Bai Koroma, received the harshest sentence. He was given concurrent prison terms ranging from 40 to 70 years for various offenses. Two female police officers were also among those convicted, with Ramatu Kamanda Conteh receiving a 30-year sentence for harboring Koita.
Notably, a twelfth accused, Bai Mahmoud Bangura from the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, is being tried separately due to health issues.
The government has alleged that the coup attempt was primarily led by bodyguards of former president Koroma. Koroma himself was initially charged with four related offenses but was later allowed to leave the country on medical grounds. The former president has condemned the coup attempt, while his lawyers have dismissed the charges as “trumped up” and part of a “political vendetta.”
This coup attempt and subsequent trial have reignited tensions in Sierra Leone, a country still recovering from a devastating civil war that ended in 2002. The convictions highlight the ongoing challenges to political stability in the region and raise questions about the future of democracy in Sierra Leone.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of this failed coup and the resulting legal proceedings, many observers are closely watching for any signs of further political unrest or efforts at reconciliation between opposing factions.
